Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Switzerland

Switzerland: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 23.7 in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
23.7
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
159th
of 190 countries
All-time high
23.9
in 1995
All-time low
23.2
in 1977
Years of data
42
1975–2016

Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Switzerland, 1975–2016

05101520251975199520161975: 23.31976: 23.31977: 23.21978: 23.21979: 23.21980: 23.21981: 23.21982: 23.21983: 23.21984: 23.21985: 23.31986: 23.41987: 23.41988: 23.51989: 23.61990: 23.71991: 23.71992: 23.81993: 23.81994: 23.81995: 23.91996: 23.91997: 23.91998: 23.91999: 23.92000: 23.92001: 23.92002: 23.92003: 23.92004: 23.92005: 23.92006: 23.92007: 23.92008: 23.82009: 23.82010: 23.82011: 23.82012: 23.82013: 23.82014: 23.72015: 23.72016: 23.7

Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Switzerland is 23.7, measured in 2016.

The figure is down 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Switzerland peaked at 23.9 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 23.2, in 1977.

That places Switzerland 159th out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Switzerland, year by year

Annual values for Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Switzerland, 1975 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1975 23.3
1976 23.3 +0.0%
1977 23.2 -0.4%
1978 23.2 +0.0%
1979 23.2 +0.0%
1980 23.2 +0.0%
1981 23.2 +0.0%
1982 23.2 +0.0%
1983 23.2 +0.0%
1984 23.2 +0.0%
1985 23.3 +0.4%
1986 23.4 +0.4%
1987 23.4 +0.0%
1988 23.5 +0.4%
1989 23.6 +0.4%
1990 23.7 +0.4%
1991 23.7 +0.0%
1992 23.8 +0.4%
1993 23.8 +0.0%
1994 23.8 +0.0%
1995 23.9 +0.4%
1996 23.9 +0.0%
1997 23.9 +0.0%
1998 23.9 +0.0%
1999 23.9 +0.0%
2000 23.9 +0.0%
2001 23.9 +0.0%
2002 23.9 +0.0%
2003 23.9 +0.0%
2004 23.9 +0.0%
2005 23.9 +0.0%
2006 23.9 +0.0%
2007 23.9 +0.0%
2008 23.8 -0.4%
2009 23.8 +0.0%
2010 23.8 +0.0%
2011 23.8 +0.0%
2012 23.8 +0.0%
2013 23.8 +0.0%
2014 23.7 -0.4%
2015 23.7 +0.0%
2016 23.7 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 23.24 23.2 23.3 5
1980s 23.32 23.2 23.6 10
1990s 23.83 23.7 23.9 10
2000s 23.88 23.8 23.9 10
2010s 23.76 23.7 23.8 7

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 156 Nigeria 23.9 compare
  2. 156 Somalia 23.9 compare
  3. 158 Indonesia 23.8 compare
  4. 159 Central African Republic 23.7 compare
  5. 159 Sri Lanka 23.7 compare
  6. 159 Zambia 23.7 compare

See the full ranking of 190 places →

More gender data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Switzerland?
Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Switzerland was 23.7 in 2016, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Switzerland?
The highest recorded value was 23.9 in 1995.
What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Switzerland?
The lowest recorded value was 23.2 in 1977.
How does Switzerland rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
Switzerland ranks 159th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in Switzerland?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Switzerland data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Mean body mass index (BMI) in women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Switzerland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-women/switzerland/

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About this data

Indicator
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women
Source
World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
190 places, 7,980 data points, 1975–2016
Last refreshed

Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by her height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.